India’s R Vaishali Wins Bronze in World Blitz Championship, Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi Share Title

Indian chess player R Vaishali has made her mark on the international stage by clinching a bronze medal in the women’s section of the World Blitz Championship. Her impressive performance comes on the heels of fellow Indian player Koneru Humpy’s title-winning show in the rapid event, showcasing the strength of Indian chess players on the global platform.

Vaishali’s journey to the bronze medal was not an easy one, as she faced tough competition from Chinese opponent Zhu Jiner in the quarter-finals. However, she emerged victorious with a score of 2.5-1.5 before ultimately falling to another Chinese player, Ju Wenjun, in the semi-final with a score of 0.5-2.5.

The World Blitz Championship was dominated by Chinese players, with Ju Wenjun ultimately claiming the world title by defeating compatriot Lei Tingjie with a score of 3.5-2.5. Despite the tough competition, Vaishali’s performance was commendable and earned her praise from five-time world champion and FIDE vice president Viswanathan Anand.

Anand congratulated Vaishali on her bronze medal win, highlighting her qualification as a “power-packed performance.” He expressed pride in supporting Vaishali through the Waca Chess mentee program and commended her for ending the year on a high note.

In the ‘Open’ section of the championship, world number one Magnus Carlsen and Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi shared the Blitz title after three sudden-death games failed to produce a winner. Carlsen, who had faced controversy earlier in the week for a dress code violation in the Rapid championship, expressed satisfaction with the shared win and praised the decision as a good way to end the event.

Overall, the World Blitz Championship showcased the talent and resilience of chess players from around the world, with Vaishali’s bronze medal win adding to India’s success in the international chess arena.